Realize You Are An Israelite
Romans 9:1-9
Pentecost 14 (C)
Last week we talked a bit about the Olympics. As I was watching some of the events
this week it occurred to me that there is an interesting dichotomy at the Olympics. On
the one hand, the Olympics are an opportunity for athletes to take pride in their
individual countries. On the other hand, the Olympics are meant to be an opportunity
for nations to come together and realize that, as human beings, we are all in this
together. It seems that the Olympics want us to celebrate both our citizenship in the
United States as well as our citizenship in the human race.
In our sermon text for today St. Paul tells us something about a different kind of dual
citizenship. Yes, you are a citizen of the United States - that is your physical
citizenship. But, did you realize that you are also an Israelite? I know…it may sound
crazy. But it is true. Spiritually, you and I are Israelites. Let’s allow St. Paul to explain
how and why and what that means for us.
I.
Rejoice that you are an Israelite
Our text is from the ninth chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome. It is
always difficult to jump into the middle of a letter and understand what is going on. So,
let’s get our bearings a bit. Paul spent the first eight chapters of his letter explaining
how God has saved people from their sins through the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. Specifically, he pointed out that this salvation was for all people, not just
the Jewish people. This was a revelation for many of Paul’s Jewish readers. They
knew from God’s promises in the Old Testament that they were God’s chosen
people. And it was true - God chose to send the Savior through the Jewish
nation. Unfortunately, this led some Jewish people to two false conclusions: 1) that
merely being a physical descendant of Abraham meant that a person was saved and 2)
that only the physical descendants of Abraham could be saved.
Paul corrects both of these false conclusions in our text. He points out that, “…not all
who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants
are they all Abraham’s children.” In other words, Paul is saying that not everyone
physically descended from Abraham is one of God’s chosen people. Unfortunately,
many Israelites have rejected God and His promises. Those who have will not be
saved - not because God rejected THEM but because THEY rejected HIM.
We heard Jesus warning the Jewish people of His day about this in our gospel
lesson. “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He
said to them, 24 ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because
many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the
house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading,
“Sir, open the door for us.” But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you
come from.”’”
It is tragic to think of all those people who had the chance to meet Jesus face to face as
He preached and taught but who refused to believe He was the Savior they needed. It
was so tragic that Jesus was brought to tears when He thought of how many Jewish
people would be needlessly lost. You might remember Jesus said, “O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I
have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings, but you were not willing” (Luke 13:34)!
St. Paul felt the same anguish in his heart. Listen again to what he wrote to the
Romans, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could
wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,
those of my own race, the people of Israel.” Just think of it! Paul said that, if it were
possible, he would be willing to go to hell himself if it meant that his fellow Israelites
would go to heaven.
But, it doesn’t work that way. Only through faith in Jesus can a person go to
heaven. And if a person rejects the forgiveness Jesus promises they cannot go to
heaven because they have rejected the very forgiveness they need to enter heaven.
Thankfully, you and I know Jesus as our Savior from sin. At your baptism you were
born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven. That’s why Paul could write
this: “…it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children
of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” You are not a
PHYSICAL descendant of Abraham. But you are a SPIRITUAL descendant of Abraham
because you trust in the same promise that HE did. He trusted in a Savior who WOULD
come. You trust in a Savior who has ALREADY come.
And think of all the advantages you have because you are a spiritual child of Abraham an Israelite, if you will! Just like being a citizen of the United States has
advantages. Our country is not perfect by any means. But, boy it provides plenty of
blessings. As a citizen of the United States you are defended by the most powerful
military in the world. You have freedom of speech. You have freedom to move
wherever you choose. You have the opportunity to get an education. You have the
opportunity to be an entrepreneur if you like. You have the security of living in a society
ruled by law and order. We could probably go on all morning listing the advantages of
being an American.
But, even better are the advantages of being a spiritual Israelite. You have the peace of
knowing that God is not angry at you for your sins - He has already forgiven them. You
have the confidence to know that you never need to worry - God will provide for
you. You have the freedom to forgive people who sin against you - just as God has
forgiven you for your sins against Him. You have the certainty of knowing right from
wrong - God tells you in His Word. You have the strength to overcome temptations God will give it to you. You have the remarkable ability to face even death without fear God guarantees you an eternal life with Him. Aren’t you glad you are an Israelite!?
II.
Do not respond like so many of the Israelites
Please, don’t throw it away. Learn a lesson from God’s Old Testament
people. Tragically, many of them threw away the advantages of being God’s chosen
people. They rejected their Savior even though they had every possible reason to trust
in Him. Paul points this out in our text. He writes, “Theirs was the adoption as
sons…” Out of all the nations on earth, God personally selected the Israelites as His
chosen people. “…theirs the divine glory…” At certain times God visibly showed
them His glory (like in the pillar of fire when they were wandering through the
desert.) “…(theirs were) the covenants…” God made covenants with Israel that He
made with no one else. “…(theirs was) the receiving of the law…” At Mt. Sinai God
wrote down His will for them. No other nation had that. “…(theirs was) the temple
worship and the promises…” God gave them a specific way of worshiping that
pointed ahead to the great sacrifice that their Savior would make. If anyone should
have recognized who Jesus was, it was the people of Israel. Sadly, many of them
rejected their Savior in spite of all the advantages God had given them.
Don’t do what they did. You and I have advantages too. We are members of a church
body that still teaches that God’s Word is reliable and true. We preach and teach the
full and free forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. We have the gift of baptism
through which souls are adopted into the family of God. We have His Holy Supper
where He gives us His body and blood and with it the forgiveness of every sin. As
spiritual Israelites…we have it all! Don’t ever throw it away.
It is always emotional watching athletes from the United States receive a gold
medal. Our national anthem is playing as tears run down the cheeks of the winner. It
makes a person proud to be an American. But it is only temporary. One day our
American citizenship will mean nothing. But our spiritual citizenship is forever. Even as
you celebrate being an American during the next Olympics or Fourth of July, remember
your other citizenship. And celebrate being an Israelite. Amen.